On February 11, 2026, Cleveland Police launched a new “Drone-as-First-Responder” (DFR) service to support local communities in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. As the first force in the North of England to proactively adopt this technology, Cleveland Police uses the drones to fly to the scene of emergencies immediately following 999 calls, often arriving in under 90 seconds to provide live video to officers on the ground and staff in the control room.
The drones are launched and controlled from remote locations, allowing them to arrive at incidents significantly faster than patrol cars. The technology is designed to help find missing people, track suspects, and gather aerial evidence during ongoing crimes, such as illegal off-road biking and antisocial behaviour.
On February 13, 2026, the new system assisted in the sentencing of a 16-year-old boy who had been driving an off-road bike while disqualified in the Hemlington area. A police drone had previously followed the boy through the neighbourhood, providing the crucial evidence needed for the prosecution.
This initiative is part of a national trial coordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). Between October 2024 and March 2025, police drones were deployed 26,584 times across the UK, successfully helping to locate 721 suspects and 649 missing people.
Middlesbrough District Commander Superintendent Marc Anderson and Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey expect the drones to improve safety and efficiency. The use of aerial footage aims to provide situational awareness for officers and reduce the time roads or public areas must remain closed during investigations.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
